One Thing You Have Yet To Master But Really Wish To

Groups / Heat In The Kitchen / One Thing You Have Yet To Master But Really Wish To

divaliscious 6 months, 1 week ago said:
one thing you have yet to master but really wish to
This doesn't have to be about cooking, though that was my first thought to this subject which has been twirling in my head for awhile.

So your answer can be anything you still wish to accomplish...

Now I know some of you are fabulous chefs and cooks, but is there one thing that continues to aloof you somewhat.

and if its not about cooking, then what is it?

greekgirrrl 6 months, 1 week ago said:
RE: one thing you have yet to master but really wish to
Math!

frankieanne 6 months, 1 week ago said:
RE: one thing you have yet to master but really wish to
Gravy. Although I am doing a bit better since I found out about Wondra.

hollymayb 6 months, 1 week ago said:
RE: one thing you have yet to master but really wish to
Bake.
I know the theory, I've taken classes, my Mom's taught be what she knows... but I still suck at it. I like to blame it on my crappy oven, but the truth is it's probably me. The precise nature of the whole deal freaks me out.

deedeec 6 months, 1 week ago said:
RE: one thing you have yet to master but really wish to
corn bread - I can't make moist tender cornbread to save my life unless I use Jiffy Mix. I've tried dozens of recipes too...

divaliscious 6 months, 1 week ago said:
RE: one thing you have yet to master but really wish to
for me its my mother's pie crust...I still can make a good one - but nothing like her's which are always flaky and tender. urgh!

and its been meringue lately - but sunpuppy here gave me a few tricks and tips I got to try her version!

justjakesmom 6 months, 1 week ago said:
RE: one thing you have yet to master but really wish to
I'm with the pie crust - my problem is my mom's and sister's are so perfect and flaky that I feel why bother even trying. Sad, I know.

sparow64 6 months, 1 week ago said:
RE: one thing you have yet to master but really wish to
Biscuits and gravy!!!

My biscuits have no middle, no matter how I make them, whether I use bisquick or flour.

deedeec 6 months, 1 week ago said:
RE: one thing you have yet to master but really wish to
Oh... ditto with the pie crust!

pleclare 6 months, 1 week ago said:
RE: one thing you have yet to master but really wish to
For me,it's pie crust too! Pillsbury refrigerated custs and me are good friends!

notyourmomma 6 months, 1 week ago said:
RE: one thing you have yet to master but really wish to
Pat, I have to laugh....for years I tried and tried to make my mom's pie crust recipe and it didn't work out as beautifully as hers...it was always sodden and dense. I kept at it and kept failing. One Thanksgiving I trotted over to her house early a.m. to see her make a pie crust once again, and nearly fell off my chair when she pulled Pillsbury pie crust out of the frig and put it in the pan. "Mom, I always thought you made homemade!!!!! Shock, disbelief?@!!" No, honey, I quit making them homemade years ago, when this product came out...why fuss? shhh, just don't tell gr-ma and Dad."

pleclare 6 months, 1 week ago said:
RE: one thing you have yet to master but really wish to
That's funny!

rml 6 months, 1 week ago said:
RE: one thing you have yet to master but really wish to
Sparow, I'm sending you my Mom's biscuit recipe....easy and excellent. You're on your own with the gravy, though. I don't do gravy.

divaliscious 6 months, 1 week ago said:
RE: one thing you have yet to master but really wish to
Yes, sparow, please biscuits are way easier than pie crust....

though grandmas trick was to put cookie sheet with cut biscuits back into freezer to be extra cold while oven was preheating...I've done the same since, flaky on the outside, moist on the inside - and don't over mix!!! set aside when they are just together - also maybe try and cheat with a self rising flour and southern biscuit recipe.

speaking about pie pastry - oh that;'s a funny story to catch your mom with 'fake' pastry dough

AND I caught ina garten doing a pie pastry the other day on TV where she put and pulled flour to make the pie dough from the freezer...just saying folks... just saying... it made me want to try a meringue pie this weekend - one to finally get over my meringue issue and more importantly to try the cold flour trick... it would make sense too!

anyone else with mastering issues?

knoxcop 6 months, 1 week ago said:
RE: one thing you have yet to master but really wish to
I would like to master some size 5 jeans, anyone got tips for that?? lol

--Kn0x--

divaliscious 6 months, 1 week ago said:
RE: one thing you have yet to master but really wish to
Geeze knox, i would settle for a size 12 jeans! lol

wynnebaer 6 months, 1 week ago said:
RE: one thing you have yet to master but really wish to
I need to master anything with yeast....I don't what it is but I just can't do breads.....:)

lemanscollector 6 months, 1 week ago said:
RE: one thing you have yet to master but really wish to
Love to bake but need to work on my cooking, its not that I don't think I can do it, I just don't take the time... on another note I still haven't mastered the guitar, everybody tells me you can teach yourself but if that is the case my teacher sucks lol

notyourmomma 6 months, 1 week ago said:
RE: one thing you have yet to master but really wish to
I still can't knit despite best efforts and it is frustrating as all get out. Kid can and does and it ticks me off that my left hand won't learn what the right hand is doing.

Can't make a decent chocolate curl, it always looks like something my dog did by accident instead of a pretty curl on top of the cake, any suggestions?

momto4 6 months, 1 week ago said:
RE: one thing you have yet to master but really wish to
Pie crust is my life's failure! I have my oldest daughter make it and it is a flaky melt i your mouth crust every time! for gravey i use the Bisto instant gravey mix! Everyone raves about my gravey! It comes in beef and chicken! AMAZING stuff!
great if you are making meatloaf too!

pat2me 6 months, 1 week ago said:
RE: one thing you have yet to master but really wish to
Can't knit and I can't rollerskate.........rollerskates frustrate me absolutely!

linebb956 6 months, 1 week ago said:
RE: one thing you have yet to master but really wish to
Driving in heavy traffic... I panic! San Antonio scares the crap out of me! Ever try driving with eyes shut and griping the steering wheel? Not easy! LOL
As for the biscuits... I make a really good one... but... hello, frozen is my way of life for the past few months! Don't like canned.. Except to make the cheap donuts for kids...

Gravy... I use corn starch.. or if I do use flour.. I have a immersion blender.. gets rid of lumps... fast!

Patience... I need to learn that too! I am short tempered.. and with nerves lately .. go for the kill fast!

divaliscious 6 months, 1 week ago said:
RE: one thing you have yet to master but really wish to
thanks funny nym! the image really got me! Thats a question for Knox, who I am sure has the trick down pat in regards to curling chocolate.

gramma58 6 months, 1 week ago said:
RE: one thing you have yet to master but really wish to
Walking without tripping over NOTHING!...can't ice skate either.

pat2me 6 months, 1 week ago said:
RE: one thing you have yet to master but really wish to
Hey, Line.....mix half flour and half cornstarch together and then add the cold water....you won't get lumps....promise!

NYM....my left hand does its own thing too......really aggravating!!! Sucked in the 7th grade when I broke my right arm!

notyourmomma 6 months, 1 week ago said:
RE: one thing you have yet to master but really wish to
I have a cherished picture of my mom roller skating at 55 years young. I'm younger and I can't now and I couldn't way back then...I was holding on to the parked cars in Venice Beach for dear life. She was weaving in and out of the moving cars like a champ. She was one heck of a lady. She could upholster too and I have two wingback chairs staring me down in the living room. If I only had her courage....and gumption to tackle them head on.

Pat, thanks for the pep talk. At least I learned how to type with both hands. LOL

mrtnzangel8 6 months, 1 week ago said:
RE: one thing you have yet to master but really wish to
There is nothing that I can think of...pretty perfect already if you ask me. LOLOLOLOL

Y'all know I'm kidding. I am the worst at organization. ugh
Never did start that garage sale this weekend...got lucky, it stormed this morning....ha!

As for cooking, took me a long time to figure out the gravy thing, but I think I do alright with it now. My biscuits come out of a bag in the freezer.

And I am with Line on the patience thing..but if you would've known me a couple of years ago, you would know that I have made big strides with that. :)

mrtnzangel8 6 months, 1 week ago said:
RE: one thing you have yet to master but really wish to
Grilling...I want to master the grill!

pleclare 6 months, 1 week ago said:
RE: one thing you have yet to master but really wish to
I am happy letting hubby do the grilling! He enjoys it and does it well.

divaliscious 6 months, 1 week ago said:
RE: one thing you have yet to master but really wish to
I hear ya when it comes to knitting - I can always cast on, never cast off...and as for crouchet - I make scarves with crooked sides...

I wouldn't dare go rolling skating at my age - with my fear of falling and breaking something, though I used to (back when they had four wheels) - and to think I used to down hill ski and take jumps like nobody's business - with my knees, Im super careful going up and down stairs...

nym, I love the thought of having that photo of your mom, its priceless, and to think she upholsters too! My kind of gal who receives instant respect from me!

linebb956 6 months, 1 week ago said:
RE: one thing you have yet to master but really wish to
Hey, Line.....mix half flour and half cornstarch together and then add the cold water....you won't get lumps....promise!

PAT... don't leave me hanging.. what is the ratio on this? How much does it thicken? I am doing a turkey breast... and this would be a place to try it! Always up to learning something new! I bet it reheats better than just corn starch... Send ratio GF..

linebb956 6 months, 1 week ago said:
RE: one thing you have yet to master but really wish to
Also looking for low cholesterol stuff... for hubby.. with taste.. how much is low? We eat low fat.. but now low cholesterol...

pat2me 6 months, 1 week ago said:
RE: one thing you have yet to master but really wish to
Hi, Line
Sent my guesstimate on how I do the fravy....don't have directions.....we'll work on the low choelesterol......not that hard!

notyourmomma 6 months, 1 week ago said:
RE: one thing you have yet to master but really wish to
Line, I have to do the low cholesterol stuff for hubby now, too. No more three egg omelettes for him. (however, those egg beaters aren't bad and make a credible breakfast). He hates oatmeal and cereal, so I've been experimenting with oat muffins made with egg beaters and fruit purees instead of butter. Not perfected yet, some were as dense as a hockey puck. Not kidding when they say baking is a science.

I have successfully used tofu crumbles in some recipes that call for ground beef to no ill effect, tacos, chili mac, and sloppy joes. (I put the low fat mayo in the full fat container and he hasn't noticed the difference). I have bought ground turkey breast and I'm trying to convert him to a turkey meat loaf with little success, It was too dry and crumbly by far.

pat2me 6 months, 1 week ago said:
RE: one thing you have yet to master but really wish to
MA.....and anyone else that's interested....

This is a great grilling site!

http://www.barbecuen.com:80/begin.htm

sparow64 6 months, 1 week ago said:
RE: one thing you have yet to master but really wish to
Thanks for the site, Pat!

Linda - I use cornstarch for thickening gravy in pot roast, or mushroom gravy, etc. Never tried it with biscuit gravy. Do you mix cornstarch instead of flour with your grease from the sausage or bacon? Mine is never lumpy with the flour, just tasteless, and not the right consistency...I don't know the ratios for it, I guess.

Knox - I'd settle for getting out of the plus size dept! If anyone can help with that! LOL

linebb956 6 months, 1 week ago said:
RE: one thing you have yet to master but really wish to
OK.. don't hit me... I switched to the boxed peppered gravy... it is cholesterol free... no more sausage gravy... Been doing that for a couple months.. and he is now used to it. I made chicken fried chicken and used that... it was good...

We have been eating low fat for a couple years... so I guess there is not much difference? They just left us hanging with this... What about seafood... shrimp? Crab? We eat a lot of that.. and salmon... I took the red meat away quite awhile ago.. he gets that once a week... if he is nice! Not cheese eaters... He does like those eggs.. I thought about doing a 3 egg.. but only use 1 yolk... ????

divaliscious 6 months, 1 week ago said:
RE: one thing you have yet to master but really wish to
I thought shrimp was super high in cholesterol? as is crab... huh

divaliscious 6 months, 1 week ago said:
RE: one thing you have yet to master but really wish to
Juts did a little research, turn out shrimp are good, so eat 'em up! even if you worry about cholesterol.. thanks I learned something today...

http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/indepth.food/meat/seafood/healthful.shrimp/index.html

thepiggs 6 months, 1 week ago said:
RE: one thing you have yet to master but really wish to
Notcho,
My brain is mush right now, but someone posted a turkey burger recipe, right after it was on Oprah. It''s from Donald Trumps resort in FL, whatever the name is. It's listed under the resort name. I'm really good here. OR you can go to Oprah's website and look for the recipe. It's supposed to be delicious and moist. I don't see any reason why you couldn't work the burger recipe into a meatloaf. I know I'll think of the name after I hit the send key.

thepiggs 6 months, 1 week ago said:
Rice dishes
Linda,
I managed to get Hubby weaned off some of his meat by making rice dishes that include meat, specifically, chicken.
These are something similar to fried rice, with just bits of meat. I also add carrots and peas, sometimes celery and onion. I also put in sunflower seeds and or pumpkin seeds, which are very good for mens' health. Just lots of goodies in the rice, with just a taste of meat now and then. You could make one chicken breast last for two days, honest! This is one of my kitchen sink recipes, using all sorts of seasonings, too. You will just have to be creative in working with this, as there is absolutely NO recipe, just lots of stuff thrown together in rice.
I also have some rice dish recipes on my recipe page, just use one of those, add lots of rice and goodies, leave most of the meat out.
I know, very specific here.
Also, some of the indian recipes can be made without meat and are quite good. If you can get those spices down his gullet, try some of those.

thepiggs 6 months, 1 week ago said:
Mar-a-largo turkey burger
For Notcho
http://www.grouprecipes.com/54248/mar-a-lago-turkey-burger.html
There is a chutney recipe by the same person that is part of this recipe.

notyourmomma 6 months, 1 week ago said:
RE: one thing you have yet to master but really wish to
Thanks, TP, I'll give it a try. The last turkey loaf ended up in the doggie bowl.....which made me a hero to my furbabies, but not so popular with the resident crank.

I'm going to work a lot more grains into the diet, too. I'll check out the rice recipes.
Y'all the best.

We did go see "Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull" tonight. It was a rollicking good time. We really enjoyed it. Having a rootbeer float to top off the evening. (Diet HIres is a good thing, and we used frozen vanilla tofutti).

pointsevenout 5 months ago said:
RE: one thing you have yet to master but really wish to
Craps! Yeah that's right! The dice game. There is a way to derandomize the result of the toss of the dice just a little. Just enough to turn the odds of the game in your favor. It takes tons of practice. There are dice mechanics out there that are pulling down $1000/day seven days a week plying their trade as a craps shooter.
You get a little insight into my name now. POINTSEVENOUT. Point, is what the stickman barks out when the shooter of the dice sets the number to be made in the hand, along with what number is set. Seven-out is what the stickman barks when the seven shows up before the number of the hand. I have a propensity of setting the point then following it up immediately with a seven. It's the worse possible hand a shooter can throw.
I have not been practicing as I should. It takes years of practice to get good. It's my fault. Not enough dedication. One day before it's too late, I will build a mock-up craps table so I can practice at home. It would be nice to pull down a 6 digit income at the casinos but I need to get butt ugly with my practice.
I'm not a gambler. Gamblers gamble for the thrill of gambling. I recognize that craps, like all other casino games, has a negative-expectancy. It is unrealistic, to me, to gamble knowing in the end that I will lose money. Until I can get that little edge and turn it into a positive-expectancy game, all my betting and practicing will be done at home on my practice rig.

2marbles 5 months ago said:
RE: one thing you have yet to master but really wish to
Canning! I am afraid I might kill my family. lol

pointsevenout 5 months ago said:
RE: one thing you have yet to master but really wish to
Check out the "I can because I can" group.

mbalmr 5 months ago said:
RE: one thing you have yet to master but really wish to
I think at my age, I'm doomed to be a jack-of-all-trades, master of none.

jencathen 5 months ago said:
RE: one thing you have yet to master but really wish to
The list is so long...But the main one for cooking is:

Baking. My biscuits are hockey pucks. If it calls for kneading I'm in a lot of trouble. Hence, instead of practicing I just admit defeat and never bake really. Only certain things will I attempt.

pat2me 5 months ago said:
RE: one thing you have yet to master but really wish to
jencathen.......biscuits need to be handled gently....not kneaded....makes them tough......don't give up!

Mix the ingredients until just blended........turn out on a well floured surface, get flour on your hands and GENTLY work enough flour into the dough so it's not sticky.

GENTLY, press out the dough with your floured hands to the thickness you want it

Flour your cutter, cut 'em out and bake them.....you'll be fine!

pointsevenout 5 months ago said:
RE: one thing you have yet to master but really wish to
Let me add on to what pat2me has spoke. When you add the fluid to the dry ingredients, fluff it in with a fork, and just enough fluid to make the flour moist. Do not stir in the fluid. Stirring creates gluten in the dough that make it tough. Add enough fluid so the dough will not crumble after you squeeze a ball of it in your hand. Most of the time the biscuit recipes will always tell you to put in too much fluid. They do it on purpose to make sure there is enough fluid for the recipe. If you use all the recipe liquid the dough will be too sticky and you will end up putting too much extra flour in the dough to compensate, which will make the biscuits too dense. Gluten strands are great for making bread because it traps air and lets the bread dough rise but it is not so good for biscuits.
Biscuits need to be a little more supple. You want them to hold together and not crumble but still be soft and easily bitten through. So a very little gluten formation is necessary. Fluffing the fluid into the flour prevents the creation of gluten. The gluten formation comes when you knead the dough. It is going to take about 8 to 12 kneads to get the right amount of gluten formation. It is an acquired touch. Practice. Practice. Practice.
Pat out the dough to your desired thickness as pat2me says. And if you want those kind of biscuits that split in half down the middle easily, fold the dough over in half once, then pat it back out to your desired thickness.
Cut 'n Bake.
Rolling out the dough might make more gluten than you desire. If you are making round biscuits you will have some scrap dough left over after the first biscuit cuts. Gather the scrap up in a pile and pat it out again. Do not knead the scrap dough. The more the dough is kneaded the tougher the biscuits will get.

pointsevenout 5 months ago said:
RE: one thing you have yet to master but really wish to
A note on cutting out the biscuits. Use a very sharp edge and do not twist or pull the edge through the dough. A dull edge will compress the outside edge of the dough and it will not rise fully as it should. The same advice if you are making square biscuits using a knife to cut out the squares. Do not drag the knife through the dough. It compresses the edge of the biscuit the same as twisting the biscuit cutter or using a glass to cut out biscuits.

jencathen 5 months ago said:
RE: one thing you have yet to master but really wish to
Thanks for the tips. I've copied them into a word file for easy reference!

divaliscious 5 months ago said:
RE: one thing you have yet to master but really wish to
Excellent points point and pat! And very good points on the sharp edges of the biscuit cutters...I will be sure to use my old fashioned cutters which are very sharp, thanks - I knew my grandma was on to something!

I too like jen above, am copy and pasting both you gals ideas!

plot_thickens 3 months, 1 week ago said:
biscuits
Easypeasy: I increase the liquid in my biscuits by 1/4 again and mix with a fork. The final dough is really quite soft. Gloppy, almost. Then I pour it into a greased pan and bake. No kneading, rolling, or cutting make for much more tender biscuits -- just break off a hunk and it's golden delicious fantastic!

You need to be logged in and a member of this group to post a message. You can join this group here.